“Special Olympics in the News” is a weekly update on media highlights around the world. Please forward to Programs or constituents that would be interested in receiving news about Special Olympics.  If you have media coverage you would like to include, or if you wish to discontinue receiving this update, please contact Karl Hejlik at khejlik@specialolympics.org.

General Media Highlights From Around the World
-- The Day (US), 27 September -- What Eunice Knew
Through her sister Rosemary, Eunice Kennedy Shriver knew that people with intellectual disabilities deserve the same love, respect and full lives that others enjoy. Read more

--Teleantioquia Noticias (Columbia), 25 September -- Special Olympics Colombia will take care of 250 athletes of the program of Sport Without Limits
Next the 26 of September at Carlos Mauro Hoyos, contiguous the airfield for light aircrafts Juan Pablo II, Special Olympics will take care of to 250 athletes with intellectual disabilities as part of the program Sport Without Limits of the Inder Medellín. Read more (PLEASE NOTE: This full article is only available in Spanish.)

-- WCSH-Channel 6 (US), 25 September --Big Names In Town To Help Special Olympics
Some big names from pro sports history are in boothbay for a good time and a good cause. This weekend is the 19th annual Boothbay Charities Classic, a golf tournament that raises money for the Special Olympics. Read more

-- WTOC-Channel 11 (US), 25 September -- Special Olympics of Georgia honored
The Special Olympics of Georgia received two special recognitions Friday morning at Chatham County Commission. Chatham County sheriff Al St. Lawrence gave more than $50,000 raised by his office to the program. In turn, Special Olympics of Georgia gave sheriff St. Lawrence a plaque in his honor of being the highest findraising agency in Georgia. Read more

-- Morning Sun (US), 26 September --Carrying the torch
Three years ago, local Special Olympics volunteers came to the Pittsburg Police Department to request that local law enforcement officers become more involved with the Special Olympics Torch Run and the Polar Bear Plunge, an annual fundraising event.One of those answering the call was Chris Moore. Read more

-- The Hindu (India), 24 September -- Mangalore: A competition where every participant is a winner
The scorching sun on Wednesday would surely have tested the endurance of seasoned athletes. That these physically challenged competitors managed to withstand the heat make each one of them champions. But the organisers of the Special Olympics held at NITK-Surathkal keeping the special efforts of the champions in mind ensured that each competition at the event had several winners. Read more

-- Laconia Citizen (US), 24 September --Senior Center members knit scarves for Special Olympians
Members of the Meredith Senior Center have knit more than 100 blue and white scarves that are to be worn by New Hampshire Special Olympians during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Games set for March 4-6 at Waterville Valley. Read more

-- WLS-TV ABC (US), 23 September -- Mayor Richard Daley, Leaders gather to support Special Olympics
Local business leaders gathered on Wednesday to celebrate and support Special Olympics in Illinois. A number of local and state officials also attended the breakfast at the University Club downtown. Read more

-- Fox Cities Hub (US), 23 September -- History Channel reality star to appear at Truck Convoy for Special Olympics
Alex Debogorski from the History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers” will be the honored guest at the World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics, which rolls out of the Pioneer Truck Plaza in Richfield at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Read more

-- Sports Illustrated (US), 21 September --Shriver's legacy lives on through Best Buddies
The sun has yet to rise over the oak trees that line this windy road in Carmel Valley, a sleepy town in Northern California's wine country, when Anthony Kennedy Shriver steps on to a makeshift stage with his sister Maria Shriver while nearly 1,500 bicyclists watch from below. They are preparing to kick off the Audi Best Buddies Challenge, a 100-mile bike ride from Carmel down to San Simeon along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway to raise money and awareness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Read more

-- Barnstable Register (US), 21 September --Loretta Claiborne urges students to find their passion
Loretta Claiborne was born partially blind and mildly retarded and much of society didn’t give her enough credit. “I remember as a kid I was told you’ll never do this. You’ll never do that. My mother was actually told I’d be institutionalized,” Claiborne told students of St. Francis Preparatory School in Hyannis last week. Today Claiborne, 56, is a celebrated athlete who has won an ESPN Espy award, crossed the finish line of 25 marathons, won dozens of medals in Special Olympics events and has the current women’s record in her age group for the 5,000 meters at 17 minutes. Read more

Health and Wellness News
-- The Hindu (India), 25 September -- Apollo to screen 50,000 intellectually-disabled athletes
The Apollo Hospitals Group on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Washington-based Special Olympics International (SOI) and Lifetime Wellness Rx International to screen 50,000 intellectually-disabled athletes. As the first step, Apollo and Special Olympics Bharat together screened the health of 82 students of Lekhadeep and Nirmal Schools for children with intellectual disabilities. Read more